Larry J. Vink, 78, Topeka, entered into eternal peace on June 8, 2013 at Lexington Place Care Home. He was born Feb. 22, 1935 to Lloyd and Mary (Grow) Vink in Great Bend. Larry ran heavy equipment for Barton County Hi-way starting at age 16. He ran it for four years. He farmed and worked in oil fields until he started his own business, L-V Excavating in Hoisington. In 1976, he moved his family to Topeka to manage Capital Equipment. He continued doing excavating until retirement in 1990.

Melvina Mary Francis, 85, died June 10 at Catholic Care Center in Bel Aire. Born Feb. 7, 1928 in Liebenthal, she was the daughter of Adam and Mary (Gaube) Kreutzer. On Sept. 14, 1948, she married Thaine "T.C." Francis in Great Bend. A resident of Great Bend for 48 years, she was a homemaker.

ELLINWOOD - Daniel James "Danny" Otipoby, 37, of Ellinwood, died Monday, June 10, 2013 at Great Bend Regional Hospital, Great Bend, from injuries received in a motorcycle versus deer accident, two miles east of Great Bend.

LARNED - The Larned Juvenile Correctional Facility has selected Kay Keller and Tim Bagby as Second Quarter Employees of the Quarter. They were selected from nominations submitted by their peers; candidates are chosen based upon factors including job performance, dependability, competence, initiative, work ethic, and achievement.

This week's Chamber of Commerce Coffee will be hosted by Service Master of Barton County, at the Chamber Board Room, 1125 Williams, at 9:30 a.m., Thursday. Ambassador in charge will be Shawn Panzer with greeters Aaron Andrews and Connie Oetken. Coffee, refreshments and door prizes will be available.

CORVALLIS, Ore. - Danny Hayes hit a two-run home run and Oregon State advanced to the College World Series with a 4-3 victory over Kansas State on Monday night in the finale of a best-of-3 Super Regional at Goss Field.